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Thursday, August 4, 2011

Effect of Change in Rotor Resistance on Torque

It is shown that in slip ring induction motor, externally resistance can be added in the rotor. Let us see the effect of change in rotor resistance on the torque produced.

Let R2 = Rotor resistance per phase

Corresponding torque, T α (s E22 R2)/√(R22 +(s X2)2)

Now externally resistance is added in each phase of rotor through slip rings.

Let R2' = New rotor resistance per phase

Corresponding torque T' α (s E22 R2' )/√(R2'2 +(s X2)2)

Similarly the starting torque at s = 1 for R2 and R2' can be written as
Tst α (E22 R2 )/√(R22 +(X2)2)

and T'st α (E22 R'2 )/√(R'22 +(X2)2)

Maximum torque Tmα (E22)/(2X2)

Key Point : It can be observed that Tmis independent of R2 hence whatever may be the rotor resistance, maximum torque produced never change but the slip and speed at which it occurs depends on R2.

For R2, sm = R2/X2 where Tmoccurs

For R2', sm' = R2'/X2' where same Tmoccurs

As R2' > R2, the slip sm' > sm. Due to this, we get a new torque-slip characteristics for rotor resistance . This new characteristics is parallel to the characteristics for with same but Tm occurring at sm'. The effect of change in rotor resistance on torque-slip characteristics shown in the Fig. 1.

It can be seen that the starting torque T'st for R2' is more than Tst for R2. Thus by changing rotor resistance the starting torque can be controlled.

If now resistance is further added to rotor to get resistance as R2' and so on, it can be seen that Tmremains same but slip at which it occurs increases to sm' and so on. Similarly starting torque also increases to T'st and so on.

Key Point : Thus by adding external resistance to rotor till it becomes equal to X2, the maximum torque can be achieved at start.

It is represented by point A in the Fig. 1.

If such high resistance is kept permanently in the circuit, there will be large copper losses (I2 R) and hence efficiency of the motor will be very poor. Hence such added resistance is cut-off gradually and finally removed from the rotor circuit, in the normal running condition of the motor. So this method is used in practice to achieve higher starting torque hence resistance in rotor is added only at start.

Thus good performance at start and in the running condition is ensured.

Key Point : This is possible only in case of slip type of induction motor as in squirrel cage due to short circuited rotor, extra rotor resistance can not be added.

Example : Rotor resistance and standstill reactance per phase of a 3 phase induction motor are 0.04 Ω and 0.2 Ω respectively. What should be the external resistance required at start in rotor circuit to obtain.